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Gold Bonus Vendor - Player Input

crypticbuxomcrypticbuxom Posts: 4,583 Arc User
According to this PTS Update there will be a vendor where one costume piece will be given to players who are subscribed. At the start of every month the piece will be cycled out for a new one.

Will we see cycled out costume pieces ever again?

Will players have to subscribe every month to get each exclusive piece?


Possible Solutions:
Let the costume pieces remain in the vendor but add an ever increasing price onto older pieces as newer ones are added.


What are your thoughts?


UPDATE:
Lifetimer subscriptions will now be able to unlock any old pieces they may have missed even after the month of release. The new pieces will now no longer be lost forever.

Thank you for your input.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • stergasterga Posts: 2,353 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    I think it's a way to try and get people to sub. And I don't think it's going to work.
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  • spinnytopspinnytop Posts: 16,450 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    sterga wrote: »
    I think it's a way to try and get people to sub. And I don't think it's going to work.

    Ya, anyone who's the kind of costume hound that would be influenced by this would likely have subbed already to get all the costume pieces in the z-store.

    Those will have to be some pretty amazing monthly pieces to get anyone to sub over them.
  • kallethenkallethen Posts: 1,576 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    It's a nice additional bonus at least.
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  • trailturtletrailturtle Posts: 5,496 Perfect World Employee
    edited May 2014
    kallethen wrote: »
    It's a nice additional bonus at least.

    Exactly that. We value our subscribers, and we want to make sure they feel awesome month over month, especially with a little kick of something new and fresh.

    These are going to be exclusive to subscribers, and exclusive to the month they are released. We will not be re-releasing them later on, either in the vendor or in another system -- these are planned as exclusives that are available only for a limited time. We're really looking forward to seeing the costumes that subbers make with these, they'll be nice little bonuses for them to play with.
  • flowcytoflowcyto Posts: 12,740 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    a wild TT appears!


    *throws plastic ball*


    .. this is how it works, right?


    Anyways, thanks for this addition, CN. It'll be cool to scope out, at least.
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  • morigosamorigosa Posts: 709 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    These are going to be exclusive to subscribers, and exclusive to the month they are released. We will not be re-releasing them later on, either in the vendor or in another system -- these are planned as exclusives that are available only for a limited time.

    Ouch. That... honestly really sucks. There are any number of ways things can go wrong for someone to make them miss a month - maybe they don't have the cash on hand for a sub that month, maybe they got sick and just couldn't log in to pick it up...

    I'd suggest an alternative: Make 'em exclusive for, say, six months to a year. Then put the piece in the Q store for... oh, 100,000 Q or something similarly exorbitant. That way you get to reward your subscribers now - and fuel Q usages later on.
    The people who got it as a subscriber benefit can feel smug that they got it earlier and vastly cheaper, everyone else can get it eventually if they really want it, and there will (in six months to a year) suddenly be a steady supply of new things in the Q store to give people a reason to consider trading Zen for Q.
  • serpinecohserpinecoh Posts: 353 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    I like the notion but not the intended exclusive design. A person who is a subscriber but just can't log in for various reasons (family crisis or whatever) can miss out a part, which will just annoy them (and annoyance harms retention). A newer player some months after this starts getting told "Sorry, that cool piece is denied to you *forever* is also discouraged: At least missing pieces like the old weapon unlocks a person can hold out hope for but these our outright defined as one-shots.

    I think a more reasonable approach would be to offer the new one each month free to gold, and then later charge zen (say 100) for each one but limit the purchase to current gold members. That way a person has to subscribe and feed zen into the system to catch up, and then will hopefully keep the sub for the bonus parts going forward. EDIT: Or what morigosa says above me. :)
  • lordhavelocklordhavelock Posts: 2,461 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    ...We value our subscribers, and we want to make sure they feel awesome month over month, especially with a little kick of something new and fresh...

    I love the idea of more costume pieces! I also like the idea of exclusivity for subscribers (membership should have its privileges, after all) to encourage game support. Thumbs-up!
    ...These are going to be ... exclusive to the month they are released. We will not be re-releasing them later on, either in the vendor or in another system -- these are planned as exclusives that are available only for a limited time...
    Hmmm... Personally I doubt I'd miss a month, really it's pretty easy to log in one day a month to unlock. That being said... If people sub month-to-month and have a cash-flow problem for even one month, they'll be in out of luck, or if new people join the game, there could a a long back-log of missed pieces that could never be recovered.

    I'm all for leaving the items exclusive to Gold Members, but I feel it bit too extreme to truly never re-release items. Some system of re-release for Gold Members should be available anyway... Possibly bring them back annually or something similar... (Like re-release June 2014's item when you release June 2015's).

    Anyway, good show and thanks for the gratitude/awesome-feelings.

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  • stergasterga Posts: 2,353 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    This is a blatant retention mechanic that is meant to encourage subs. It irritates me that THIS is how you choose to implement these kinds of mechanics. A stupid pair of sunglasses.

    PS: Exclusive items is what many other game companies do in the industry to get people come and stay or at the very least come back. They do this because it works.
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  • kemmicalskemmicals Posts: 853 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    As much as I like the idea, I don't see it driving up subscription sales.
  • taintedmesstaintedmess Posts: 446 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    morigosa wrote: »
    Ouch. That... honestly really sucks. There are any number of ways things can go wrong for someone to make them miss a month - maybe they don't have the cash on hand for a sub that month, maybe they got sick and just couldn't log in to pick it up...
    .

    Have to admit my first reaction to this was pretty much "Tuff" In retrospect I do still fell its a case of tuff you missed it but maybe they could be a little bit nice with there time maybe have last months part available for a very short period of time the following month a kind of l"ast chance feature"
  • thatcursedwolfthatcursedwolf Posts: 484 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    I like the monthly reward but I'm not a fan of once only exclusives.
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  • selpheaselphea Posts: 1,229 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    Is it BoP? If not I'd expect it to be on the AH after the initial month.
  • somebobsomebob Posts: 980 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    selphea wrote: »
    Is it BoP? If not I'd expect it to be on the AH after the initial month.

    It is.

    Also, happy 1300+ day subscriber (not lifetimer) here. Yeah, I'm kinda nuts with not going lifetimer somewhere down the line, but Cryptic keeps me coming back, along with all my friends and such that I know.
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  • championshewolfchampionshewolf Posts: 4,375 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    somebob wrote: »
    It is.

    Also, happy 1300+ day subscriber (not lifetimer) here. Yeah, I'm kinda nuts with not going lifetimer somewhere down the line, but Cryptic keeps me coming back, along with all my friends and such that I know.

    Thought it was the competition keeps upsetting you because they keep suckering you in and I get to go I told you so :tongue:
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  • roughbearmattachroughbearmattach Posts: 4,784 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    I like the idea quite a lot. I enjoying things that reward me for being a sub.

    Yes, there will be some envy, just as I envy some things that lifetime subscribers get that I don't. Okay by me. Not everyone gets everything.
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  • selpheaselphea Posts: 1,229 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    I have a feeling it's targeting people like me >.> Here since 2011 and only just broke 300 days subbed last month

    Anyway, if they want to reward being gold why not automatically give the pieces to LTS? It's not like they'll drop the sub, and it solves the problem of people wanting to catch em all retroactively. Put a past costume pieces vendor in the LTS lounge or something.
  • neuraldamageneuraldamage Posts: 590 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    Meh.

    Why don't you try bringing back stuff that you took out with On Alert? Then we'll talk about resubbing.

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  • jerax1011jerax1011 Posts: 966 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    I like the incentives for existing subbed players... but in cases like mine where I just simply can't afford a sub anymore it really sucks to see that they are once only items and if you miss out then that's it.
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  • ashensnowashensnow Posts: 2,048 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    I didnt like the idea of costume pieces being locked behind a subscribed time gate in the form of veteran rewards and I dont like the idea of locking costume pieces behind a specific month subscribed gate either.

    Cryptic, I admire your effort to add value to a subscription, but I dont think this is the way to do it.

    If you decide to go forward with this approach please consider counting Silver Player Zstore purchases as a means of qualifying for a given monthly costume piece. Spend $18 (I think it is reasonable to set the threshold higher than the cost of a sub due to the consistency of a sub) in the Zstore in a given month and you get the reward.

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  • thatcursedwolfthatcursedwolf Posts: 484 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    ashensnow wrote: »
    Spend $18 (I think it is reasonable to set the threshold higher than the cost of a sub due to the consistency of a sub) in the Zstore in a given month and you get the reward.

    That's something like how CoH worked when it went hybrid/freemium, spend $x or be subbed for a month and you get a token to unlock something in the rewards tree.

    One time only exclusive costume pieces just seem like a waste of potential. Personally I don't have to worry about it but it would suck for someone that saw the perfect costume piece and then found out there was no way to obtain it anymore. There should be some sort of rotation on the vendor and not just removal.
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  • crypticbuxomcrypticbuxom Posts: 4,583 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    I think you should reconsider what this is going to end up being, Trailturtle. Keep the pieces in the vendor forever but put a price tag on them for when the new piece comes out. Make the purchases exclusive to subscribers but ALWAYS keep them in there.

    If someone wants to acquire the pieces they missed months down the line, they can pay for the sub and spend the questionite for each missed piece! Making them disappear forever only adds to the mound of contempt for Cryptic.


    Please talk to your superiors about this!

    There isn't enough new content being regularly added to the game to warrant a sub every month. A single costume piece doesn't warrant this. It would take a WHOLE costume set every month to justify this.

    Exclusives are only okay if it comes with content to play when that exclusive comes out! Doing anything short of that makes you an amoral company.
  • tditstdits Posts: 666 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    gradii wrote: »
    Agreed. one time only, Miss it and you're screwed costume pieces are an absolutely terrible idea.

    Just add the pieces to Z store in small packs 6 months after they rotate out or something.
    I think you should reconsider what this is going to end up being, Trailturtle. Keep the pieces in the vendor forever but put a price tag on them for when the new piece comes out. Make the purchases exclusive to subscribers but ALWAYS keep them in there.

    If someone wants to acquire the pieces they missed months down the line, they can pay for the sub and spend the questionite for each missed piece! Making them disappear forever only adds to the mound of contempt for Cryptic.

    This. Gold only is a good idea. Miss it and you're screwed is a bad idea.

    Also, I think the zen store would make a boatload more money if you started selling per-character color tinting and per-character resource unlimiters.
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  • meedacthunistmeedacthunist Posts: 2,961 Arc User1
    edited May 2014
    Adding rewards for golds? It may help you, Cryptic.

    Though I doubt. Giving small costume parts it's not something that keeps people subscribing.
    Making a game of quality that justifies paying subscription fee is. And that's where CO has problems.
    Oftentimes that's simply not the game of quality and content on the level of polish high enough, when compared to other mmo titles.


    Making small rewards time exclusive and available only for a limited time?

    What you are trying to do, Cryptic? Annoy and antagonize subscribing part of your playerbase more? "No, you can have it never because it was two months ago, ahahahahaha!" <--- That's not gonna turn your players more loving or liking you.


    Also consider what ashensnow said about CoH/V loyalty rewards per money spent on the game, no matter the form in which they were spent.
    You are taking advantages from CO f2p format, selling Zen, lockboxes and, more important, very expensive freeform slots and less expensive, but broken, archetypes. Yet, you are still alienating this large part of your playerbase that is spending. Things like no global cap increase and generally broken Z-store and no wonder CO can't succeed even as a f2p title, let alone a subscription one.
  • flyingfinnflyingfinn Posts: 8,408 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    Full Costume Sets.
    1 Piece Per Month.
    And give the full Sets straight away to LTS.:tongue:
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  • decorumfriendsdecorumfriends Posts: 2,802 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    I'm all for this "reward". Oh, no, someone might "miss" a costume piece. Them's the breaks. This isn't Pokemon, there's no real benefit to "catching them all", just obsession.
    'Dec out

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  • serpinecohserpinecoh Posts: 353 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    This isn't Pokemon, there's no real benefit to "catching them all", just obsession.

    To some costume designers, there is a tangible benefit in "catching them all" because each new item you get increases the odds you can realize an envisioned design or potentially inspire an entirely new one.
  • lafury001200lafury001200 Posts: 567 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    ashensnow wrote: »
    I didnt like the idea of costume pieces being locked behind a subscribed time gate in the form of veteran rewards and I dont like the idea of locking costume pieces behind a specific month subscribed gate either.

    Cryptic, I admire your effort to add value to a subscription, but I dont think this is the way to do it.

    If you decide to go forward with this approach please consider counting Silver Player Zstore purchases as a means of qualifying for a given monthly costume piece. Spend $18 (I think it is reasonable to set the threshold higher than the cost of a sub due to the consistency of a sub) in the Zstore in a given month and you get the reward.

    This.

    They should just make them boe if the above can't be done.

    Either way meh, have too may ff slots now so subbing just won't work for me.*












    *I would resub if new playable content was cycled back into development, but short of that....no a few costumes won't cut it.
  • themightyzeniththemightyzenith Posts: 4,599 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    serpinecoh wrote: »
    To some costume designers, there is a tangible benefit in "catching them all" because each new item you get increases the odds you can realize an envisioned design or potentially inspire an entirely new one.

    This is totally true for most of my friends and acquaintances in-game. However, I really don't see the problem with logging in for a bare minimum of once a month to get these costume pieces.

    As a subscriber I like to see the adding of value to Gold, but I really think these pieces should be available to Silvers too...at a price.

    I wonder if this new addition for Gold members is because Cryptic have plans to improve things for Silvers......perhaps raising of the G limit and/or power colour tinting.
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  • thelastsonofzodthelastsonofzod Posts: 658 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    Okay first up, I'm a Lifetime Subscriber, just to put my cards on the table.

    With that said, I say a retention program is a great idea. We haven't veterans awards in what, 2? 3 years? I think its past time for them to release new content to subscribers to leep them invested in the game. It gives them another reason to incest in the game.

    That said, losing out on a costume piece because you forgot to claim it is pretty sucky.

    My suggestion is that every 12 months, the new costume bits should be made available as part of a costume pack in the c-store. In this way subs would get first pick of the new toys, but silvers could get it with a certain amount of patience.
  • jaazaniah1jaazaniah1 Posts: 5,424 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    Like the idea of a small reward for subscribers and any others who put real money into the game. (i.e. people who keep the game going financially).

    Also feel the pain that may result if the pieces disappear forever.

    No concern for those who don't put money into the game missing out. The reward should not be achievable by farming in-game currency.

    My suggestion would be that anyone who puts $10/month into the game (I think that's the minimum subscription cost if you have the 3 month recurring special deal) can get the piece each month and that there be special events where older pieces become available again, but again be limited to those contributing financially to the game.
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  • crypticbuxomcrypticbuxom Posts: 4,583 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    Expecting players to spend $15 a month for a single costume piece is pretty underhanded. Now if there were a dozen MORE things added in a month that would give players a reason to pay and play then it would all be alright.

    Clearly though this setup is a pay and not play model in mind.
  • roughbearmattachroughbearmattach Posts: 4,784 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    This is something extra for a sub, not $15 for a costume piece.

    If you don't want a sub, don't get one. That means you'll miss certain benefits. Seems reasonable to me, especially for just one costume piece. This isn't a power set, travel power, vehicle, or mod.
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  • ealford1985ealford1985 Posts: 3,582 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    It's just a small addition for the devoted Gold players, jeez. Just say thank you and move on.
  • championshewolfchampionshewolf Posts: 4,375 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    As a subscriber I like to see the adding of value to Gold, but I really think these pieces should be available to Silvers too...at a price.

    They are available for a price. It's called a subscription. If you want the costume bits, get a sub simple as that. If you don't want to sub, then you don't want the costume bits. And no, I don't think it's harsh that you have 30 days to get one costume piece each month for the price of having a subscription.
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  • crypticbuxomcrypticbuxom Posts: 4,583 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    Since there isn't anything regularly added to the game that keeps players in and promotes invested time put into the game, it is fair to call it $15 for a costume piece. Especially when nothing else is being added to the game.

    This would fit in STO and Neverwinter for sure since content is always available that players have never done before.

    Another way of looking at this is players should invest in a lifetime sub. That way they never have to put another cent into the game beyond that. Use their stipend to buy the costume set that comes out at a rate of one every few months, use the rest to purchase the lockbox items, and login once a month for the Gold only exclusive piece.

    Check that off as another player that won't invest since lifetime sounds better than $15 a month to make sure they get the piece.


    If they are doing this because sub sales are dropping, then they aren't paying attention as to why.
  • championshewolfchampionshewolf Posts: 4,375 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    Especially when nothing else is being added to the game.

    You're assuming they don't have anything in mind or plans to add anything.
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  • sammiefightersammiefighter Posts: 92 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    As above, good Idea, not the best implementation. Futile to make suggestions to fix implementation as it will stand as is.

    A clever comany however would have a LTS discount and fire back up the $10/month forever option right before implementing this.
  • xydaxydaxydaxyda Posts: 817 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    and here I thought my 10 dollars a month was to receive bonus ff character slots and retcon tokens for every alt I get to level 40, and to change the colors of my charater's powers, and to not have a 250g cap on resources, and to get a 500 zen stipend, and bonus access to bag slots I did not have to pay extra for...

    but I guess it's just for a single costume piece once a month from a vendor who isn't even on Live yet.

    How silly of me for thinking otherwise.
  • itsbrou#5396 itsbrou Posts: 1,777 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    There are sub games that are flourishing with limited time subscriber rewards. FFXI is an example.
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  • decorumfriendsdecorumfriends Posts: 2,802 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    serpinecoh points out:

    To some costume designers, there is a tangible benefit in "catching them all" because each new item you get increases the odds you can realize an envisioned design or potentially inspire an entirely new one.

    Oh, sure, and I'm a guy that's primarily about character design. But I'm also an adapter. You work with what you've got. I hate the whole lockbox concept, so I just pretend the stuff in those don't exist, for example.
    'Dec out

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  • sistersiliconsistersilicon Posts: 1,687 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    There are sub games that are flourishing with limited time subscriber rewards. FFXI is an example.

    "Flourishing" is the key word there, and it doesn't come close to describing CO. "Living hand-to-mouth" is closer to the truth, so perhaps Cryptic shouldn't be adding Sucks To Be You to the subscriber perk business model.
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  • xydaxydaxydaxyda Posts: 817 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    Not really sure what they have to lose by adding this. It's a little kick down for the people who are subscribers that log in semi consistently...just a little something extra for the Gold members.


    It might not be enough to get people to sub but it isn't likely to chase away any subscribers who are already subscribing.
  • championshewolfchampionshewolf Posts: 4,375 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    If anything is ever proof of the constant of the CO player base, this thread is it. The same players that whined and complained about a lack of things that define gold subscription are here now whining and complaining they are getting something to define gold subscription. And they wonder why the devs don't seem to want to do anything for this player base.
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  • trailturtletrailturtle Posts: 5,496 Perfect World Employee
    edited May 2014
    flyingfinn wrote: »
    Full Costume Sets.

    Cool though that would be... eminently not feasible, the resource allocation wouldn't make any sense. Making an entire themed costume set just for golds wouldn't have enough returns, especially given that golds basically get a free set a month with the stipend.

    The nice thing about this incentive program is that it's pretty easy for the devs to come up with an idea -- "Wouldn't speedster goggles be cool?" -- and they can make them, polish them, and release them. They don't have to invest the extra time designing an entire costume set as well. Gold players get something awesome, the dev team doesn't have to take too much time away from upcoming content, it's very efficient.

    Expecting players to spend $15 a month for a single costume piece is pretty underhanded. Now if there were a dozen MORE things added in a month that would give players a reason to pay and play then it would all be alright.

    I'd like to emphasize that this is a bonus. We're not saying the subscription is only given value by this costume piece -- a number of you are telling us, month after month, that you like the subscriptions and the benefits they provide. We like when players are happy with a service we provide (and I like when my revenue stream is a consistent, happily large number :biggrin:), so we're making the subscriptions a little more valuable for the exact same price.

    A silver player is just as important to us, and we'll reach out to them in a number of other ways, but we also want to look out for the gold players and make sure they're enjoying their benefits.

    You're assuming they don't have anything in mind or plans to add anything.

    You guys know the drill by now -- our plans are always within scope (so no new zones or level cap), but I can say some cool stuff is on its way. The dev team has hit their stride, and while they're cranking out awesome C-Store releases like the Tactical Armor and the Smoke Aura, they're hard at work on new non-monetization content as well. Stay tuned, heroes...
  • serpinecohserpinecoh Posts: 353 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    You work with what you've got.
    Yeah I never expect to get the bulk of the old crafting unlocks or that helmet that was linked to vehicle sales, or even the rarer stuff that *is* available cause I'm not really much of a grinder (other games burned that out of me), and that doesn't cause me any stress at all. And I don't anticipate ending my $10 sub unless it bugs out again or I up to lifetime (which I'm trying to swing next month) so I don't anticipate missing any of the parts in this new program. I subscribe already, so I obviously think the value of the game is within reason without this addition. And I do actually like the idea of little one off parts as a perk for subscribers. However I don't think "no Speeder Goggles for you" is an ideal policy to apply to potential loyal future-subscribers who show up 6 months from now. Just my opinion.
    they're hard at work on new non-monetization content as well. Stay tuned, heroes...
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  • eiledoneiledon Posts: 1,287 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    maybe change it so we have the current giveaway and the previous month's available at one time. Just in case heaven forbid LIFE gets in the way of gaming.
  • spordeliaspordelia Posts: 460 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    All in all, I see it as a definite plus. It's also a nice way to release "standalone" pieces, that we'd maybe never get because they don't fit a theme/concept of regular costume sets. And let's be frank, most players don't purchase a set aiming for ALL of its pieces. In this aspect, it's a clever way to slowly introduce new, non-specific, versatile pieces (much like those at launch), back-to-basics in a way, adapted to where the game's at now. Thumbs up from me! :wink:


    An issue that's being pointed out (that I can totally relate and understand), is possibly missing out on one of these for various reasons (traveling, other RL stuff, returning players...), happens to be one you'd have loved to have gotten, and you'll never have that chance again. Sounds a bit... harsh, too strict? Might generate some dissatisfaction, especially on the long run, I see how that could become a problem.

    I'd maybe suggest, periodically (every X [6?] months or longer), not a lot unlike weekly sales, putting those last (6-month, in that case) cycled out items up for sale again, at an increased price, for like a week perhaps. A time of the year players would know these would be available again, but as a "last chance" kind of deal; and then that'd be it! What do you guys think?
  • stergasterga Posts: 2,353 Arc User
    edited May 2014
    People don't leave because there's nothing to wear, they leave because there's nothing to do. This retention mechanic does NOTHING to change that.

    If Cryptic just wanted to add this in as a bonus, why don't the costume bits just magically show up in the tailor every month for gold / lts? And why make it limited time? There is a reason why you have to actually log into the game, walk over to a vendor, and click to get the pieces.

    First of all, it forces you to actually log into the game. More important in the case of LTS members who are probably leaving, never to return. Having the game look populated means that new people are less likely to see this as a game on it's death bed and stick around instead of 1 hour and gone. Another thing, is if you are bothering to log into the game for this stupid costume bit, you might actually play the game for a bit. If you play the game for a bit, you might drop some money on the cash shop.

    Second, I suspect that subs are dropping off and have been for a long time. I bet there are a lot of those former subs who hang around as silver players. Having this vendor COMPLETELY ignores the reasons people drop their subs but stick with the game.

    Third, the vendor itself is a "Hey, sub and get limited time cool stuff!" beacon. There is plenty of this already, but in a different fashion. Lockboxes say "hi". And... the last one totally bombed VS the one before it. The Foxbat box, which kept the q to zen prices high for a long time, had something to do with it. The Steel Shadow did not and prices are already dropping back to the new normal. They might even get below 300 q/zen before the 4th of July lockbox event. There is nothing to DO with the addition of these costume pieces which is why I think this is going to fail.

    Fourth, Cryptic has been trying to push players from silver to gold since the game went F2P and it's done nothing but fail. Once again, they are making business decisions that is very unlikely to work instead of playing to the strengths of the F2P model.

    Knowing all of that, yes, I hate this retention mechanic because it doesn't do anything to solve the actual issues with the game and player population.
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    [at]riviania Member since Aug 2009
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